Donaldson Foundation
The Donaldson Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, established in 1966. It serves as the primary philanthropic vehicle for Donaldson Company, Inc., and is led by a volunteer employee board. The foundation distributes approximately $1.2 million annually to nonprofit organizations in communities where Donaldson employees live and work.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+12.5% YoY
Grant Count
73
+28.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-12.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission of the Donaldson Foundation is to positively impact communities by supporting and investing in education.
The foundation's philanthropic priorities include:
- Supporting educational initiatives for those with little or no access to essential learning resources and opportunities
- Providing matching grants to educational institutions
- Providing scholarships for post-secondary education
- Partnering with plant communities to address and support local educational efforts
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes approximately $1.2 million annually. Recent fiscal year data shows:
Grant Range
approximately $92–$150
Average Grant
approximately $92–$150
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in Bloomington, Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul area) and the following U.S. locations where Donaldson has significant manufacturing or distribution presence:
Midwest: Anderson, Indiana; Auburn, Alabama; Baldwin, Wisconsin; Chesterfield, Missouri; Chillicothe, Missouri; Cresco, Iowa; Dixon, Illinois; Frankfort, Indiana; Greeneville, Tennessee; Nicholasville, Kentucky; Rensselaer, Indiana; Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Waterloo, Iowa
Other Regions: Feasterville, Pennsylvania; Ivyland, Pennsylvania; Stockton, California; Valencia, California
The foundation also supports communities across multiple states including California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving
- Total assets: $5.6–$9.1 million (varies by reporting source and fiscal year)
- Annual giving: $1.2–$1.34 million
- Total revenues (FY 2024): $1,255,016
- Total expenses (FY 2024): $1,200,025
- Investment income and dividends: $255,016
EIN: 41-6052950
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
204 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Donaldson Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Greater Twin Cities United Way ($205,000), Special Olympics ($150,000), Scholarship America ($133,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship America Minneapolis, MN | Educational scholarships | $133,000 |
| Matching Gifts MINNEAPOLIS, MN | Matching employee donations | $10,890 |
| Science Museum of MN St Paul, MN | general support | $50,000 |
| United Way of Clinton County Clinton, IA | general support | $29,290 |
| United Way of Portage County Stevens Point, WI | general support | $24,162 |
| United Way of Greene County Greeneville, TN | general support | $6,870 |
| United Way of Lee County Dixon, IL | general support | $1,836 |
| United Way of St Croix Valley Hudson, WI | general support | $2,392 |
| Greater Twin Cities United Way Minneapolis, MN | general support | $205,000 |
| Dixon Public Schools Dixon, IL | general support | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sarah Swenson – President
- Lori Schmidt – Treasurer
- Lisa Evans – Secretary
All board members serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lori Schmidt | President | 10 | — |
| David Green | Treasurer | 10 | — |
| Mark Chamberlain | Secretary | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded a $100,000 challenge grant to DonorsChoose in 2024
Donaldson Company Foundation Awards Grant to Elmwood High School TechnologyElmwood High School Technology Education Department received a grant from the foundation
Donaldson Company Foundation Awards Grant to Elmwood High School TechnologyGreene County received foundation support for educational initiatives
Donaldson Foundation provides grant for Greene Cou - Greene LEAFThe foundation sponsored five free admission Thursday nights at the Minnesota History Center in May 2024, resulting in 1,612 visitors to the museum
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Donaldson Foundation fund?
The mission of the Donaldson Foundation is to positively impact communities by supporting and investing in education. The foundation's philanthropic priorities include: • Supporting educational initiatives for those with little or no access to essential learning resources and opportunities • Providing matching grants to educational institutions • Providing scholarships for post-secondary education • Partnering with plant communities to address and support local educational efforts
How do I apply for a grant from Donaldson Foundation?
**Grant Distribution & Amounts** The foundation distributes approximately $1.2 million annually. Recent fiscal year data shows: • Total giving: $1.2–$1.34 million • Average grant size: approximately $92–$150 • Total grants awarded in recent years: 34 grants **Grant Types** The foundation offers: • Organizational grants to educational nonprofits • Matching grants to educational institutions • Scholarships for post-secondary education • Educational program support **Application Requirements** • G…
Where does Donaldson Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in Bloomington, Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul area) and the following U.S. locations where Donaldson has significant manufacturing or distribution presence: **Midwest:** Anderson, Indiana; Auburn, Alabama; Baldwin, Wisconsin; Chesterfield, Missouri; Chillicothe, Missouri; Cresco, Iowa; Dixon, Illinois; Frankfort, Indiana; Greeneville, Tennessee; Nicholasville, Kentucky; Rensselaer, Indiana; Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Waterloo, Iowa **Other Regions:** Feasterv…
What size grants does Donaldson Foundation award?
In 2025, Donaldson Foundation awarded 73 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Donaldson Foundation's EIN?
Donaldson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6052950. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Donaldson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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